The number of recorded offences against the person in 2002-03 was 4,472 compared with 4,311 recorded the previous year, an increase of 3.7%. Assaults accounted for 65.9% of offences against the person while sexual assault accounted for 6.6%.

OFFENCES AGAINST PROPERTY

The number of recorded offences against property in 2002-03 was 41,482 compared with 44,619 in 2001-02, a decrease of 7.0%. Offences relating to burglary of buildings decreased substantially by 13.9%, from 8,272 in 2001-02 to 7,119 in 2002-03, whereas damage to property decreased by 9.7% over the same period.

RECORDED OFFENCES(a), Tasmania

2001-02

2002-03

Change

Offence category

no.

no.

%

Offences against the person

4,311

4,472

3.7

Fraud and similar offences

2,040

1,663

-18.5

Assault (excl. sexual assault/assault police)

2,863

2,946

2.9

Sexual assault

283

296

4.6

Robbery (armed/unarmed)

175

118

-32.6

Murder

9

5

. .

Offences against property

44,619

41,482

-7.0

Burglary - buildings

8,272

7,119

-13.9

Burglary - motor vehicles/other conveyances

4,054

3,930

-3.1

Stealing - general(b)

7,810

7,563

-3.2

Stealing - motor vehicles

2,629

2,396

-8.9

Injury/destruction of property

6,838

6,175

-9.7

. . not applicable(a) Offences 'recorded' refers to both offences that have been reported by the public and accepted by police as being genuine, and offences that have been detected by police in the course of their duties and/or criminal investigations.(b) Stealing not connected with burglary and excluding shoplifting and stealing motor vehicles.

Source: Department of Police and Public Safety, Annual Report 2002-03.